Unigo.com has put together such a guide. Written for the people, by the people, college students provide advice to future and current fellow students. It includes lessons learned over their years of being Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors and articles about the first days on campus, dorm life, adjustment to academics and items you’ll need to survive.

Here are just a few tips from “What I Wish I Knew About My College Budget”

Get used to the high life: “Most of us spend the rare amounts of free time we have working crappy part-time jobs so that we can afford to buy textbooks next quarter. The most expensive place you’ll ever go to for dinner is Pizza Hut and you’ll wear the same clothes for four years straight.” – Sarah, OSU

You can’t win if you don’t play: “Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships! I’m not kidding when I say this. You have got to apply for as many scholarships as humanly possible. Many scholarships that seem like they would be a one-time give often contribute for all four years that you’re in school. You will be so glad later when your interest statements for your student loans start coming in.” – USF, Jen

Act fast for FAFSA: “Do make sure you apply to FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as soon as you possibly can. It usually opens on January 1st for the year. The earlier you apply for aid, the more they will have available.” – FSU, Justyn

Milk alum funds: “University alumni love to give money away—but not to just anybody. So if you’re a minority (either because of your GPA, ethnicity, or hobby), go ahead and take advantage of the overwhelming amount of resources you’ll find available.” – Annie, University of Utah

 To read more, or download this free guide.

Feeding the Masses
Most college cafeterias include pizza, hamburgers, and all you can eat desserts; but, some greener colleges are looking for ways to add healthier items to the menu. Way back in 1969, Connecticut College became one of the first undergraduate colleges to offer an environmental studies major. In 2005, they began Sprout! the College’s first sustainable gardening initiative. Sprout! now provides more than 100 pounds of fresh food grown organically on their own campus. In 2007, they started a compost program to reuse food waste and provide compost for their organic gardens. Connecticut College also purchased enough renewable energy credits to offset their energy usage this year.

Work Up a Charge
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were more motivation to go to the gym? Yale student, Henrique Rocha, developed a way for an exercise bike to do more than just burn calories. He discovered a way to channel the wasted energy and heat from bicycling to charge several small electronics such as a cell phone, an iPod, and possibly a laptop.  According to the Yale Daily News, future plans for this project include providing enough electricity to power the gymnasium. 

SmogWatch
UCLA’s group PEIR (Personal Environmental Impact Report) has invented a way to know how many carbon emissions you are creating in your daily life and how you are impacted every day by different exposures. PEIR allows users to track their footprint via cell phone or through Facebook. The cell phone tracking is made possible by using GPS to track your exposure indirectly. When you add the PEIR application via Facebook, you can compare your scores with that of your friend.

The same group has also started a program GarbageWatch.com. This program tracks and photographs all trash cans on the UCLA campus. By doing this they hope to track where more recycling bins need to be added on campus and analyze what students are throwing away to better know how they can reduce the waste.

What Can You Do?
To make your campus greener, you do not have to have a Ph.D. in environmental studies. Follow these easy steps and spread the word to fellow students using email or word of mouth.

RecycleMania!
RecycleMania is a program started in 2001 by two colleges looking for a friendly recycling competition. Since then the program has expanded to more than 500 schools competing and recycling more than 40 million pounds. If your university is not yet involved, talk to your school’s supervisor and enroll at Recylemania.com. There is a good chance your university is enrolled in the competition but not at a competitive level. You, and others at your campus, can rally and bring awareness to the recycling competition. Make sure to place clearly labeled recycling bins near regular trash cans to make recycling easy for everyone.

Go Paperless
Think about all the announcements posted campus-wide—everything from football games to chess club meetings—then add up all the papers your professors give you. Having professors and club advisors move the majority of their assignments and their announcements online will not only save thousands of papers, but also make it more convenient for internet-savvy students. Encourage university web services to make surfing announcements easy and accessible for everyone. Other ways to save on paper (and money) is to buy e-versions of textbooks when made available.

Turn It Off
Switching to energy-saving light bulbs and air conditioners can help universities save money and the planet. Bring up using energy efficient appliances and bulbs in each classroom, office, and dorm to your university board—a big difference will be seen in the use of electricity as well as your college’s energy bill. On a personal level, you can start by unplugging unused appliances and switching off lights in your dorm room.

You can make a difference in your school by raising awareness of green issues and coming up with ideas that support both your school and the earth. You may be surprised to find out how many of your fellow students are willing to help.

Ashley Sinatra is a freelance writer based in Lancaster, California. She enjoys reading and saving money.

Car insurance
Yes, there is a proven correlation between good grades and safer driving. Most car insurances companies will offer a “Good Student Discount” between 10 and 25% for an undergrad with at least a 3.0 GPA. Keep in mind, one ticket can erase a semester’s worth of hard work.

In-school scholarships
Many colleges have scholarships for students already in school. Check with your financial aid office to see if your impressive freshman grades can translate into merit aid. Many schools offer in-school scholarships or rewards by department so ask your department head within your individual program of study.

The federal government offers two need-based grant programs for full-time students who are U.S. citizens with a 3.0 or better GPA.
• The Academic Competitiveness Grant – available to college freshmen and sophomores
• The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant (SMART) – available to college juniors and seniors

Credit cards
Citibank wants you to “learn and earn with the Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa® Card for College Students.” Every semester that you get good grades, you receive bonus “ThankYou® Points;” the higher your GPA, the more points you’re awarded. An A-average can earn you a 4,000 point annual bonus—the equivalent of a $25 Barnes & Noble gift certificate or two CDs. Ask your credit card company about their individual good grade programs.

Rent
Apartment complexes in college towns are known for offering students discounts on their rents if they can maintain the required GPA. Some schools even have discounts on dorms. Make sure to ask your housing office or potential landlords about possible rental rewards.

Games for grades
Play ‘N Trade has a “Games for Grades” Program. Students receive a 10 percent discount on any used video game for each "A" on their report card. Check with a store near you to make sure they participate in this program.

Travel
Ask about good grade discounts when booking a trip—especially for spring break. Many resorts and hotels will offer good grade spring break discounts. Check with a student travel agency about GPA deals for airfare, car rentals, and hotels.

Good grades are their own reward, but why not take advantage of other people who want to honor your hard effort as well? It doesn’t hurt to ask stores around your school if they offer a discount. You never know where you might be able to save a few bucks.

The seminar "Got Blood? Vampires in Literature, Film, and Popular Culture" requires students to devour at least 200 pages a night — all night, if necessary.

But with the exception of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula," most of the reading does not fit into the canon of classic literature. Instead, books include the popular "Twilight" series and Anne Rice’s "Interview with the Vampire."

The Chronicle of Higher Education reported the "Twilight" titles were among the best-selling books on college campuses this year. That apparent bloodlust among students inspired Gwinner to create the course.

"In the pantheon of monsters and monstrosities, few figures have the hold on our imaginations that vampires do," Gwinner explains in his syllabus.

Unlike other villains, vampires do harm to their victims on every level, Gwinner said.

"Everything is at stake … physically, mentally, spiritually," Gwinner said. "One’s sanity is at stake. One’s body is at stake. The soul is at stake. That’s part of what vampires do very well."

But vampire narratives also probe themes with teeth. The fanged fiends offer an unusual perspective on cultural changes and taboos about gender and sexuality.

Emily Parris, 23, of Geneva, Ill., has sought escape in vampire novels since she was a teen. She likens them to romance.

"I tend to view them more as brain candy," she said.

It helps that vampires have gotten hunkier over the years.

"People who come under the sway of a vampire cannot resist," Gwinner said. "And I think that’s what is largely at work … By the time we get to ‘Twilight,’ there’s this family in the neighborhood. They’re very dreamy looking. They become less monstrous."
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(c) 2009, Chicago Tribune.
Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (http://www.mctcampus.com).

A Boynton Beach, Fla., company says it has the solution.

YOUniversityTV.com is touting itself as the first Web site providing video tours of college campuses. There are about 400 colleges, spanning from Florida to California to Hawaii. The segments are about 10 minutes each and feature a team of young hosts, most of whom are just out of college themselves. The graphics, music and interview styles are reminiscent of the reality and "Spring Break" shows often found on MTV.

And it’s helpful too, said Chloe Dolandis, 24, of Boca Raton, Fla., who is one of the hosts.

"It’s cost effective, saving students time and money, because you don’t have to travel," said Dolandis, a Florida Atlantic University graduate who hosted many of the segments. "What you need to know is one place. I wish I had something like this when I was looking at colleges."

In addition to the Web site, YOUniversityTV is also negotiating with several networks to bring the campus tours to television, company officials said.

"We always thought college content could make for great television," said Angelo Kotzamanis, one of the co-founders. "It’s just so visually appealing, rich in history and very entertaining."

And during a recession, when families are looking for ways to cut expenses, Kotzamanis said the Web site can prove a valuable resource, although he doesn’t expect it to replace all travel to colleges.

"We’re just a helping hand for the prospective student," he said. "A student may apply to 10 schools, get accepted to seven but maybe only afford to visit three or four," he said. "Our Web site narrows that down."
A Florida International University video looks at the school’s large array of sculptures, its proximity to Miami night life, its diversity and its academics.

A video on the University of Florida examines the school’s popular sports atmosphere, its tough admissions standards and its cheap price for in-state students. Students, faculty and admissions counselors are interviewed. The video includes shots of campus buildings shots, football and basketball clips and lots of Florida gator mascot shots.

UF officials like the idea of the site.

"Certainly we think it’s one more way to get out information about our university," said Steve Orlando, a spokesman for UF.

FAU is not featured. Spokeswoman Lisa Freed said the company approached the school last year, but the two sides couldn’t agree to terms of the contract.

Don’t expect to learn much about any of the negative aspects of the colleges. A Virginia Tech video includes only a fleeting mention of the 2007 massacre. A tour of Duke doesn’t rehash the drama involving the lacrosse team. A contract the company signed with UF says it agrees not to "adversely impact the good will and reputation" of the school.

"We’re not being investigative like news," Kotzamanis said. "We’re helping students know about the school from an admissions perspective."

Kotzamanis and his business partner, Ron Reis, have been together since 2001. Their previous company, Max World News, filmed stories for clients and pitched them to media organizations. That company folded in late 2007, and the partners focused their attention on YOUniversityTV in early 2008. Film crews have spent a year visiting college campuses and launched the Web site in April.
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(c) 2009, Sun Sentinel.
Visit the Sun-Sentinel on the World Wide Web at http://www.SunSentinel.com
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

“I believe soda is the next tobacco,” said Barry Popkin, director of the University of North Carolina’s Interdisciplinary Obesity Center and author of “The World is Fat,” published this year. Soda drinkers haven’t achieved pariah status like smokers before them, but proposed sugar taxes and social pressure to be healthy can put a damper on doing the Dew — and even some in the growing ranks of diet pop drinkers are feeling soda shame.

According to Popkin, Americans are consuming up to 300 more calories per day now than they were 25 to 30 years ago, and two-thirds of that increase is from caloric beverages like soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juice and milk.

While milk has important vitamins and minerals, the sugary beverages “have no health benefits,” Popkin said. And studies show people who drink caloric beverages don’t compensate by cutting out other food, so the calories add up, he said.

An article in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine put it bluntly: Sugar-sweetened beverages “may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic,” it said.

The article, co-authored by Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale, and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden, makes a case for imposing hefty taxes on sugary drinks to curb consumption. A proposal in New York last year to impose a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugared beverages could be expected to reduce consumption by 13 percent, or about two servings per person per week, according to the article.

A federal tax on sugary beverages is one of many proposals Congress is considering as it debates how to pay for a $1.2 trillion overhaul of the health care system, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that adding a tax of 3 cents per 12-ounce serving of sweetened drink would generate $24 billion over the next four years.

The notion of a soda tax riles some die-hard pop fans.

“Stop taking away the things I enjoy,” said Jaime Groth, 26, as she sipped a ginger ale during lunch recently. Groth was a smoker until cigarettes were taxed out of her reach, and she doesn’t want the same fate to befall her soda habit.

“At some point, you know stuff’s not good for you,” Groth said. “People should be able to make their own decisions.”

Two states — Maine and New York — that tried to impose large soft drink taxes in the past year have not succeeded.

Tracey Halliday, spokeswoman for the American Beverage Association, a trade group representing beverage distributors, said proposed taxes on sugary beverages are “a pure money grab” and unfairly discriminate against one product. She batted away soda’s comparison to tobacco, “a known carcinogen.” “There is clearly no comparison between tobacco and soft drinks,” Halliday said. “People are not buying it.”

Health-conscious consumers are, however, increasingly turning away from regular soft drinks in favor of diet alternatives.

The regular soft drink market lost 15.6 million adult drinkers from 2003 to 2008, while the diet soda market gained 7.8 million drinkers, according to Mintel, a Chicago-based market research firm. People also are increasingly drinking bottled water, energy drinks and sports drinks, Mintel found.

Weight maintenance and concern about the health risks of high fructose corn syrup were the biggest reasons cited for moving away from pop, and Mintel does not expect much growth in artificially sweetened beverages as people steer clear of chemicals. Rather, people will be willing to pay more for naturally sweetened beverages, Mintel predicts.

“I don’t trust the aspartame in diet (soft drinks) or the sugariness of regular soda,” said Jane Boateng, 26, of Gage Park.

Some diet pop drinkers feel pressure to kick the fizzy stuff altogether.

Lacey Brenly admits to a Diet Coke addiction that dates back to college, when, she claims, she switched from regular pop to diet and lost 10 pounds.

Hooked on the bubbles, Brenly, 26, said she drinks at least three Diet Cokes a day, which draws tsk-tsks from some of her friends.

“I have a lot of friends who are health nuts — who do yoga, shop at Whole Foods — and I get a little flack from them for my Diet Coke consumption,” Brenly said. Brenly, a smoker, said some friends try to convert her to a smoke-free, pop-free lifestyle — but both are tough habits to break. When she attempted a two-week health kick, “the first thing to go was the all-water pledge,” she said.

“I always feel pretty guilty about it, like when people started recycling,” Brenly said. “I feel guilty that I’m not trying to be healthier.”

Diet sweeteners have come under fire for conditioning people to want more sweets, and some have been linked to cancer, but Popkin said there has been no established literature proving that diet sweeteners are harmful or cause weight gain. Researchers with the Framingham Heart Study published a study two years ago that found people who drink one or more soda per day — diet or regular — are nearly 50 percent more likely than non-soda drinkers to develop risk factors for heart disease, but the study author said that could be because people who drink soda also tend to eat more and exercise less.

To Popkin, sugary drinks are the known culprit, leading to weight gain and increasing the risk for diabetes. Drinking one extra 12-ounce can of regular soda a day, at 140 calories, can cause you to gain 13 pounds in a year, he said.

Monica Flores has struggled to nix regular pop from her diet. Flores, 36, said she gave up Coke and “all brown pops” for Lent this year, and three weeks in she had painful headaches. As soon as Lent was over, she went back to drinking soda.

Flores’ friend Michele Campbell said she has no intention of giving up regular soft drinks. Campbell, 39, said she knows the sugary drinks aren’t healthy, but she’s heard plenty of warnings about diet drinks too.
“If I’m going to die of something,” Campbell said, “I’m going to die of sugar.”

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(c) 2009, Chicago Tribune.
Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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It seems completely uncalled for, cruel even, for colleges to charge students upwards of $40K a year for the privilege of attending their fine institutions of higher learning. And yet we do it—scrimping and saving, applying for loans and scholarships, financial aid and work-study, and opting for a part-time job instead of that cool (but unpaid) internship—all because we have to, because a quality education is one thing we’re not willing to scrimp on.

Given this fact, I think it’s every student’s right—nay, obligation—to make the most of what their school has to offer, not only academically, but financially. Exploit every freebie, every funding opportunity, every “research grant” or “project stipend.” Squeeze every last unaccounted-for penny from your college’s piggy bank into your own shallow pockets.

There’s money to be found; you just have to know where to look. So, roll up your sleeves—this will likely take some digging.

Ask Around
The first step is to acquaint yourself with the opportunities available at your school. Most colleges have their own scholarship or grant programs funded by endowments from generous alumni, in addition to fellowships available nationwide like the Fulbright and Truman.  However, many schools don’t go out of their way advertising these opportunities—they may post a lone flyer in your class dean’s office and that will be the end of it—so you have to be proactive in your search.

The best way to find out about these hidden treasure troves (apart from cozying up to someone who works in the administration or career services) is through word of mouth. Know someone who’s going to Australia for the summer to study marine life along the Great Barrier Reef? Ask them how they’re funding the project. Chances are it’s not on their own dime.

As a freshman, Elizabeth Budrionis (William & Mary, ‘09) had never heard of W&M’s Charles Center, nor was she aware that it offered a number of scholarships and grants to W&M students.  If it weren’t for her roommate, who was herself applying for a scholarship, Budrionis would have never heard about the freshman summer scholarship that afforded her the opportunity to make a documentary about a haunted house in colonial Williamsburg. The Charles Center awarded her $3,000 to cover expenses, as well as free housing on campus.

“When I first found the documentary scholarship freshman year, I had always wanted to do a film project and it was a total fluke that my roommate found it,” recalls Budrionis, who has received funding for a documentary project every year since. “I think the scholarships are really great because they let students develop their own projects. It’s really cool to do your own investigative research on a subject you really enjoy.”

This year Budrionis is going to China for two weeks, along with two faculty members and three other students, to make a film about mercury levels in the Yangtze River.

Look for Internship Scholarships
Nobody wants to work for free, no matter how valuable the work experience may be. Summer internships often put students in a difficult spot because they require fulltime work for little or no pay. Few students know, however, that many schools offer grants to students doing unpaid internships, which can help take the edge off financially.

You can start out by checking with your school’s career services center, but once again, your classmates will probably be your best resource.  Jon Shestakofsky (Wesleyan ’05) says he too heard about the Dana Grant from fellow students. Upon applying, he received $3,000 toward his internship with the merchandising department for the Lowell Spinners minor league baseball team.

The application process required Shestakofsky to fill out a form explaining the premise of the internship, how it was related to his studies, and how the amount of money he was requesting (the grant afforded a maximum amount of $3,000, though the sum has recently been raised to $4,000) factored into what he would need for housing, transportation and other aspects of living and working.

“While I was working the merch side of things, I came to realize what media relations was as a position and ended up volunteering to do a lot of the work,” says Shestakofsky. “The following summer they made a spot in media relations for me to come back as a paid intern and that worked out very well.”

Shestakofsky’s luck continued. The internship led to a fulltime job running the media relations department for the Spinners. Then, two years later, the Red Sox came calling. Shestakofsky started his new job as Media Relations and Publications Assistant with the Sox this March, and as a lifelong baseball fan, he couldn’t be happier.

“It’s all been really quick and it wouldn’t have been possible without this internship that was made possible by the Dana Grant,” he says.

Have your College Pick up the Tab
College comes with all sorts of tacked-on costs that you don’t even consider when looking at the price tag. Need books for class? Get ready to fork over an extra $400 per semester. Need a gown for graduation? That’ll be another 100 bucks, thank you. A nice suit to wear on interviews? At least another $300, if you’re going high class. And that’s not even taking into account all the unforeseen costs that can arise out of emergency situations.

Certain schools offer a stipend or some sort of financial aid to help students manage these extra costs, and sometimes you don’t even have to demonstrate financial need to be approved. That’s how Abby Reilly (Smith ’08) got the school to pay for her graduation gown and award her a $200 stipend for interview expenses.

Reilly found out about these hidden funding opportunities (once again) through a friend. “I have a friend who did all the digging and let us all know about it,” explains Reilly. “She had to get knee surgery and needed a pair of eyeglasses very suddenly. She’s close with somebody in administration and they mentioned that they have all this funding through class deans [Dean of College emergency fund] and the Smith Aid Society.”

Though she says the school doesn’t really advertise it because they don’t want to give money away, there are around 10 funding programs available at Smith for items as diverse as undergrad studies, emergency travel, field trips for “special studies,” textbooks, art supplies, and social funding, among others.

Reilly looked into the programs for herself and found the application process to be quick and painless. All she had to do was fill out a simple form and, within days, she usually received notice of approval. “Pretty much, if you can justify it as an educational or vocational expense, you can get money,” says Reilly.

Not to Be Underestimated
If you can’t find the scholarships and grants that will help you get the big bucks, never underestimate the satisfaction of a good freebie.
Here is a brief list of on-campus freebies to be taken advantage of:
• Free food at school events and activity promotions
• Free movie screenings
• Silverware, napkins and dishes from dining halls
• Promotional pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, binders, bags, etc. from companies/schools promoting themselves
• Free condoms from student health services
• Free Scantrons and blue books from study breaks

Last week discussed how to get organized, what files to create, and the one place you should NEVER have your social security card. This week we will cover how to organize your regular bills, discuss key strategies for staying organized, and look at ways to avoid identity theft.

In a separate file, you may want to keep a bill organizer. Bill organizers can be purchased at low cost at almost any office store. You can organize your bills by due date or by keeping all the payment stubs of each kind together and keep your bills that are still due in another folder. You can also use one of those desktop organizers that have at least 31 slots. That way you put the bill in whichever slot corresponds to the due date (or the date you want to send the payment). I also like to keep a chart that lists all of my bills and their due dates. That way each month when I pay them, I place a checkmark in that month’s column. Just try to find whatever method keeps you from missing your payment due dates.

Receipts may be one of the biggest pains you’ll deal with when you try to stay organized. Unless you use your receipts to track your spending, you can just throw away any receipt from a purchase made in cash, such as gas, groceries, or dinner. If you paid by credit card, make sure your account number does not appear on the receipt. If it does, you should shred it.

You do need to keep your warranty information when you make a purchase. The easiest way is to make one of your files for warranties and put all of the information in this file.  You could also use a manila folder to keep the receipts for those items so they won’t get lost. Believe me, when your surround sound system breaks (the one you paid way too much money for) you’ll be happy you can find your warranty information right away. Once a warranty expires, just toss the receipt. If you really want to be organized, keep a sheet of paper in the envelope (or just write on the outside of the envelope) and list the name of the item and the date of expiration (Washer & Dryer: June 5, 2010). You can always go back and clean out the outdated receipts when you get free time. Whatever you do, be consistent. Don’t put half of your warranty receipts in one place and do something different with the rest. Just pick a system and stick with it.

I will be the first to point out that having a cluttered desk can lead to a cluttered life. The opposite is also true. Trust me; I am the authority on messy desks. When my desk is clean and everything is organized, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to be productive! It’s so invigorating to actually see the wood grain. (“You were right, my desk is maple.”) Of course the other option is to get a laptop computer and just move it somewhere clean (I don’t think my wife has caught on to me yet). When everything is messy on the other hand, I tend to be more tired. I can get overwhelmed just staring at my desk. There isn’t enough room to work, and I can’t really find anything. Two good rules to remember:

1. Only touch each piece of paper once. In other words, get it out of your inbox and either file it or take care of it.
2. As soon as you are done with something, put it away.

Identity theft is also a major concern, and good record keeping can help you avoid, or minimize the damage from, identity theft. By keeping good records, such as bank and credit card statements, you can easily identify unauthorized account activity (that sounds very attorney-like, doesn’t it?). Below are a few common safety precautions to keep in mind:

• Never carry your social security card in your wallet. If a thief gets your driver’s license and social security card, you could be in serious trouble.
• Do not have your social security number printed on your checks.
• Make a list of everything you keep in your wallet (or purse). You need the names, telephone numbers, and account numbers from each card. Better yet, photocopy everything front and back. Keep these copies wherever you file your other records.
• Do not just throw away credit card solicitations, but shred them or burn them. You can recycle everything but the part that has any of your personal information.
• You can contact the major credit bureaus and request that no new accounts be open in your name without written consent.

You have two small assignments. First, set up some sort of filing system, either with notebooks or manila folders or whatever. Create categories like the ones mentioned earlier in the chapter. You should sort through the papers you have scattered about now and put them in the proper file. Try to use this system as new documents come in, and clean it out once per year. Your second assignment is to write down or photocopy the information for everything in your wallet. If something gets lost or stolen this small step could save you hours of trouble. You might also save hundreds of dollars, depending on the fate of your credit and debit cards.

It’s that simple. A little bit of time devoted to being organized, and you will save a lot of time, and headaches, later.

Bill Pratt is a former credit card executive turned student-advocate. He is the author of Extra Credit: The 7 Things Every College Student Needs to Know About Credit Debt & Ca$h and The Graduate’s Guide to Life and Money. Bill speaks at colleges to educate and entertain students about real-life issues in money, leadership, and success. His goal is to help students succeed personally and financially so they can improve the lives of those around them. You can learn more at www.ExtraCreditBook.com or www.TheGraduatesGuide.com.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Nobody plans to fail, but they fail to plan,” so I promise I won’t mention it. If you set zero goals for yourself, that is exactly how many you will achieve. This is not about getting in touch with your inner self or anything, it is just common sense planning.

There are three basic questions to ask yourself in order to plan:

1. Where am I? You need to assess your current financial and life situations.
2. Where do I want to go? You should plan for major financial decisions such as retirement, as well as minor ones, such as vacation.
3. How do I want to get there? You have many options available. The more knowledge you have, the better you can make the decisions that will be right for you.

These three questions are essential to any type of planning. Just think of this plan as your financial road map (or your GPS navigator, if you prefer). If you were planning a trip, you obviously need to know your starting point. A trip to the Grand Canyon is completely different if you were coming from Washington, D.C. as opposed to Denver, Colorado. You also need to know where you are going; otherwise you won’t get there. Finally, you have to plot your course. Do you take the quickest route, the shortest route, or the scenic route? That’s what we are going to explore.

Where Am I Now?

The best way to find out where you are is to ask some serious questions. Are you married or single? Are you planning to have children in the near future? Do you rent, own, or live with your parents? Are you in a stable job? Do you like it? These are the types of questions you need to ask in order to figure where you are in your personal and financial life.

Getting Organized

“I’m sure I didn’t throw it away. It has to be around here somewhere…” Does that sound familiar? I know it’s not the most fun after-work activity, but it is important we keep our most important papers safe. Okay, we also have to be able to find them. I know plenty of people that have their mortgage deed in a safe place, somewhere in the bedroom… or was that in the attic? In an emergency situation (need to file a claim on your car insurance) or during a dispute (“I know my credit card balance wasn’t that high!”) you need to be able to easily find your needed documents.
The easiest way to keep all of your important papers together and readily available is to organize them in a file cabinet. Just get several manila folders and label them according to their category. Below is a list of common files to keep:

• Bank Account
• Auto
• Insurance
• Retirement
• Other Investments
• Pay Stubs
• House / Rent
• Taxes • Warranties
• Utilities
• Phone
• Credit Card(s)
• Loan(s)
• Pet(s)
• School/Child Care

Another option is to get a three ring binder with pocket inserts and keep your documents in there. That way you can move all of your files together if you need them.

Once you create your files, you may wonder how long to keep everything. Eventually the folders will get full and then you’ll stop using them, and then you can’t find anything… As a general rule, you should keep everything for one full year. Once you get a year-end statement that agrees with your records, throw out the monthly statements.  Otherwise, always have the prior 12 months handy. You should keep your tax records for seven years, since the IRS can still come after you for up to seven years. Any records for your home (if you own one) should be kept until you sell it and file your taxes. When you pay off your car loan, you will receive a document that says so. Keep it until you sell your car. You should also have at least 12 months worth of pay stubs, even if you have your year-end statement. Many banks and mortgage companies are interested in seeing a few of the actual pay stubs.

In a safer location you should keep the following:
• Birth Certificates
• Passport
• Social Security Card (never carry this in your wallet)
• Marriage certificate
• Adoption papers
• Wills/Trust

Basically, anything that could seriously cause you hardship should it be lost, stolen, or destroyed, should be kept in a fire proof safe at home or in a safety deposit box. One exception is that wills should not be kept in a safety deposit box, because the person who dies may be the only one who has access to that box. It is better to keep a copy of your will with your attorney or in a fireproof safe at home. You can also keep a copy of it in the safety deposit box or even with your other important files.

Next week we will cover how to organize your regular bills, discuss key strategies for staying organized, and look at ways to avoid identity theft.

Bill Pratt is a former credit card executive turned student-advocate. He is the author of Extra Credit: The 7 Things Every College Student Needs to Know About Credit Debt & Ca$h and The Graduate’s Guide to Life and Money. Bill speaks at colleges to educate and entertain students about real-life issues in money, leadership, and success. His goal is to help students succeed personally and financially so they can improve the lives of those around them. You can learn more at www.ExtraCreditBook.com or www.TheGraduatesGuide.com.

“Why do I need to have a game plan?” you ask. Well, to be brutally honest, it can be hard to get a job these days. “Okay, fine. I can apply to grad school,” you say. Guess what, smarty pants? It’s really hard to do that too. So suck it up and start planning. Whatever career path you choose will be filled with competition from some very smart and accomplished people. Having a plan of action is the best way to get where you want to be.

Challenge Yourself in Class
The simplest place to start boosting your college achievements with Barry Bonds-like results is in the classroom. One of the best parts of college is being able to choose your own classes. It’s tempting to take it easy with nothing but intro courses, but intro courses give you little more than subject overviews. Most of the time, they won’t be a great indicator of how more intensive courses in that subject will be taught. Instead, challenge yourself by taking as many hard courses as you can handle. By taking a class like “Japanese Military Tactics during World War II” instead of “Intro to WWII,” you are not only showing that you can tackle an intense course load (a notable and impressive feat), but you are also getting a head start on some of your academic requirements. You’re paying a lot of money for a top-notch education, so why not take the most challenging and rewarding courses available to you?

But be careful not to blindly choose whatever class you feel like taking. Having a sense of order in your course selection is key. For those trying to apply to grad school, try and keep your GPA in mind, and make time for appropriate electives. Like your resume in a job application, your transcript is your first line of attack on grad school applications. If you’re planning an entry into the workforce, take some classes that play up your strong suits. You may be an English major, but if you want a job in a law firm you may want to take some pre-law classes. Course selection is key.

Excel in Extracurriculars
You may be under the false impression that clubs are for losers and nerds. That notion couldn’t be more wrong. Clubs look fantastic on a resume. But you know what looks even better on a resume? Becoming the president of a club that you started. This not only shows that you’re passionate and pro-active about a certain issue, but also that you’re able to lead your peers and unite them in a common cause. Find that one issue that just isn’t covered by the rest of the run-of-the-mill student orgs and get on it. It’s as easy as filling out an application, talking to the student activities office and getting some of your friends on board.
Becoming the president isn’t an easy task, but any motivated and organized go-getter can do it. And c’mon, who doesn’t like a little power? As a club president you can actually make a difference by helping get the most out of the university and squeezing some funds from the administration. Above all, you’ll come off as someone who makes a great leader, something that employers and grad schools eat up. The credentials are nice, but being able to bring up in an interview how you leveraged your position to the benefit of everyone around you could be the dealbreaker you need.

Published Authors are Sexy
Seriously, it works. There are always opportunities arising to get your writing published. Whether it’s an op-ed in the campus newspaper, a piece of creative writing in a literary ‘zine, or a political diatribe in an activist publication, you’ve got options. Find out which publications are accepting submissions, talk to the editors, and write away.

But the fun isn’t just for journalism students. For example, pre-med students can help professors conduct published research, which not only provides a sweet byline but a huge talking point for potential grad school applications.

If any of this sounds above your skill-set, how about giving blogging a try? The blogosphere is gaining legitimate steam fast, and if you can show that you have enough interest in motivation to keep a blog about the subject of your choosing, that can be impressive in its own right.

The most important thing here is to write about something that you’re passionate about, and write it well. Now is the time to dust off your writing skills and put them to good use. You’ve certainly got opinions to express, and there are plenty of venues in which you can do so.  Almost every job requires some writing skill—show your writing chops in a finance-job interview, and you could be making up ground on your so-so math grades.

When trying to become a well-rounded student, always remember that there are literally hundreds of opportunities available to you, and it’s your responsibility to take advantage of them. If all of this advice sounds overwhelming, just remind yourself how capable you really are. After all, you did get into college.